Stephens Media Group Monterey is terrible/technical issues

[pclover]

Several stations they own here are plagued by technical issues and it seems they don't care.

96.9 KWAV random audio drops and skips. Took months to fix broken RDS previously.
101.7 KCDU broken RDS that was just turned off and never fixed.
104.3 KHIP random audio drops and loss of stereo pilot tone. Also again broken RDS turned off and never fixed.

Issues have been going on for months unresolved.

Mapleton Communications sold the stations to SMG here when they decided to exit the radio business. I wonder if Stephens Media Group is also on the way given how little care seems to be given.

 

[JeremyAndrews]

There is an engineering shortage these days. I know iHeart and other clusters that struggle with this. A lot of clusters don’t have engineers. They have to bring people in from elsewhere and hire contract engineers. A lot of the past engineers are retired and nobody wants to take these jobs. As a result, stuff goes unfixed for extended periods of time.

 

[gr8oldies]

There is an engineering shortage these days. I know iHeart and other clusters that struggle with this. A lot of clusters don’t have engineers. They have to bring people in from elsewhere and hire contract engineers. A lot of the past engineers are retired and nobody wants to take these jobs. As a result, stuff goes unfixed for extended periods of time.

IHeart has had serious tech issues in at least 2 markets I know of. Dayton, Ohio, I believe it was WCHD running commercials all night, and one of the others with weird network tones. Also another (I think in Florida) had a music station cut to a live interview that didn't belong

 

[JeremyAndrews]

iHeart lacks people. Some single engineer might be responsible for multiple states. They seemingly realized their mistake when they let go of most of their engineers. A lot of job openings for those positions were posted again, and nobody will take them. Can’t really say I blame them for not wanting to work for a company like that.

 

[davideduardo]

IHeart has had serious tech issues in at least 2 markets I know of. Dayton, Ohio, I believe it was WCHD running commercials all night, and one of the others with weird network tones. Also another (I think in Florida) had a music station cut to a live interview that didn't belong

Two of the three examples you note are programming issues, not necessarily due to technical and engineering failures. Usually playing the wrong thing has to do with preparing, combining and loading the music/program log and the commercial log. That problem lies with the people responsible for making the logs and loading them on the automation.

 

[pclover]

Figured I might update this but they only fixed RDS for KCDU and not for any others.

In fact KKHK here lost RDS and was just turned off and never fixed. KWAV here also is now having RDS Issues.

Makes me wonder if they struggling and will sell soon or something.

 

[Kelly A]

Figured I might update this but they only fixed RDS for KCDU and not for any others.

In fact KKHK here lost RDS and was just turned off and never fixed. KWAV here also is now having RDS Issues.

Makes me wonder if they struggling and will sell soon or something.

Saw your post on the Engineering side, where you were accusing another station of running technically out of tolerance. My only question, is: What's with you? You have some beef with iHeart stations that you feel the need to be some sort of radio nerd vigilante?

 

[Mark Roberts]

"Radio Nerd Vigilante" - worst video game ever.

 

[pclover]

Saw your post on the Engineering side, where you were accusing another station of running technically out of tolerance. My only question, is: What's with you? You have some beef with iHeart stations that you feel the need to be some sort of radio nerd vigilante?

In this case it's about Stephens Media group not iHeart. Complaining here because basic functions have been broken for a very long time and they haven't fixed it. I guess they don't care.

No, Broken RDS and audio dropouts are considered legal form technical standards obviously but it's shoddy engineering.

Is this is the new standard of quality broadcast engineering? If so what a shame but not surprising given declining revenues. As i mentioned previously wouldn't surprise me if they sell out to somebody else. Already has happened with these stations previously not long ago.

 

[Kelly A]

In this case it's about Stephens Media group not iHeart. Complaining here because basic functions have been broken for a very long time and they haven't fixed it. I guess they don't care.

How do you know they don't care? Do you have the stones to call up or E-mail their engineering folks and ask them? Seems to me basic functions include being able to hear the station. If you don't like it, I'm sure there are other stations for you to monitor.

No, Broken RDS and audio dropouts are considered legal form technical standards obviously but it's shoddy engineering.

Again, coming to some radio discussion forum to b*tch about a station isn't going to solve anything. Or do you just like to regale us with your sleuthy prowess?

Is this is the new standard of quality broadcast engineering? If so what a shame but not surprising given declining revenues.

Really? Do you know what their revenues are? My bet is no.

As i mentioned previously wouldn't surprise me if they sell out to somebody else. Already has happened with these stations previously not long ago.

Maybe you should buy them?

 

[radiofan2023]

"Radio Nerd Vigilante" - worst video game ever.

The worst part of that game is battling Ed Stolz